The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About032320_ra01 Regular Agenda Commissioners Office JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Philip Morley, County Administrator Erin Lundgren, Clerk of the Board/Human Resources Manager DATE: March 23, 2020 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION re: Adopting a Temporary County Policy Based on Emergency Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic STATEMENT OF ISSUE: As a temporary measure to protect public health and County employees under the declared State of Emergency for COVID-19, the proposed resolution adopts a Temporary County policy based on emergency response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. ANALYSIS: The proposed resolution establishes a temporary limited period of time from March 10 through April 24, 2020, to pause the early transmission of Coronavirus and to identify and treat cases which are not yet known. Specifically, it grants Elected Officials and Department Directors the authority to: 1) Grant"Emergency Paid Administrative Leave"to employees affected by COVID-19; 2) Authorize telecommuting and alternative work schedules for employees; and 3)Approve sick leave advancement, as a final safety net, for employees who have no sick leave available to them and who have exhausted all other accrued paid leave. The County is prepared to negotiate the impacts of this policy with our employee unions as may be requested. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the proposed resolution adopting a Temporary County policy based on Emergency Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. REVIEWED BY: 7 T' Philip Morley, ountyAdministrator Date COUNTY OF JEFFERSON State of Washington In the Matter of Adopting a Temporary } County Policy Based on Emergency } RESOLUTION NO. Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic } WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee declared a State of Emergency in all Counties in Washington State to due to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus; and m; . WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020,the Jeffer 4-, ounty Health Officer issued a Public Health Order to control and prevent the spread oche COVID-19 virus; and 31- WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, t World Health organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a pandemic; and 3 WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Jefferson County Board'"lf-Commissioners approved a Declaration of Emergency due to the COV19 Pandemic; and WHEREAS, Chapter 38.52 :CW vests emergency powers in the Board to take extraordinary measures for the preservation of-public health and to relieve loss, hardship, and suffering; and 1114, 14� WHEREAS,the severity of the thofsituatiOnAttmnds that the Board take measures to protect the public and county employees from further transmission of COVID-19 in Jefferson County; and HEREAS, on March 16,2020,the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved e''advanced accrual of sick leave which is hereby formalized in item#3 shown below. NOW, THEREFORE. BE 11'RESOLVED, by the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners that only during this emergency and only for the duration of the Public Health Order issued by the Jefferson 644uty Health Officer,the following shall be in effect: 1. The period fois temporary emergency response to COVID-19 is March 10 through April 24, 2020.° ' mit4period of time to pause the early transmission of Coronavirus and to identify and'tret cases which are not yet known. During this period, "Emergency Paid Administrative leave"may be granted as a temporary measure to provide financial support to employees affected by COVID-19 as outlined herein. The period of the public health emergency may be extended by the Board of County Commissioners. 2. During the period of the public health emergency, Elected Officials and Department Directors are granted the authority to approve Emergency Paid Administrative Leave for employees, including those employees in their trial period: - Who are sick or are taking care of someone who is sick. - Who have been exposed to an individual suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 and it has been recommended that the employee be in isolation or quarantine. - Who have to care for a child when their child's school or place of care has been closed due to COVID-19. - Who are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 (60 years-old and older, have underlying health issues, or are pregnant) and who request an accommodation. - Who are ordered not to come to their workplace by federal, state or local government officials, even though they are not sick. During the period of the public health emergency, healthyounty employees may be allowed to work from home or another authorized location, if praical, before being placed on paid administrative leave. Accordingly, Elected Officials and 0 apartment Directors may take steps to maximize the assignment of employees to wort rom locations other than their County workplace, including their homes, before authorizing e rgency paid administrative. Federal and State governments are workingon leave policies desig etkkd_ specifically for the COVID-19 public health emergency. Accor_ gly, Elected Officialsii Department Directors shall consider the use of leave specifically authorized by the federal or state governments to address the COVED 19 health emergent . ' he Human Resources Manager is available for consultation on leavk e poes. , � 3. During the period of the public health emerge :tL cy, Elected Officials and Department Directors may approve sick leave adyanceme` t sa final v net,for employees who have no sick leaveavailable to them and who have exhausted all other accrued paid leave may use, and*l other conditions are reasonable to such negative accrual. This applies to employees, including those mployees i s 'eir trial period: - Who are sick or f e tak g care of someone who is sick. Who;.have been a ed�o an ndividua spected or confirmed to have COVID-19 and it has been recommended that th ,employee be in isolation or quarantine. Who have to care..for a child when their child's school or place of care has been ' closed due to Copp-19. - wio are at higher'ris, of gettin very sick from COVID-19 (60 years-old and older, haveunderlying heal issues, or are pregnant) and who request an accommodation. - Who are not'to come to their workplace by federal, state or local government officials, even thoughthey are not sick. Advanced accrual of sick leave balance will be repaid either through future positive accruals at normal aeal rates or with a deduction from final employment payments should an employee leave County service for any reason when their sick leave account remains negative. 4. County Elected Officials and Department Directors are authorized to develop alternate work schedules to enhance social distancing and address other public health recommendations during the period of the public health emergency. 5. As practical and authorized by their Elected Official or Department Director, employees may be allowed to work from home during the period of the public health emergency. Telecommuting employees may be provided with county-owned equipment to perform their job duties or may be authorized to use their own equipment subject to configuration by Central Services IT. Telecommuting FLSA covered employees shall observe all normal workhours, lunches and breaks as required by State and Federal laws. All telecommuting employees will comply with all normal safety requirements related to their work. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2020. SEAL: JEFFER N COUNTY BOA' ' COMMISSIONERS Greg .root r n, Chair David Sullivan,1 ber ..- ATTEST: .,.-z-,7.- i fly, , Kate Dean, Member ; '6H Carolyn Gallaway, CMC �''�� , �k��jhpw, Deputy Clerk of the Board e0-11,„M is�. fi golb� G,( og,.., „,,,,,,e, r, 1 wk- 4111,11 a